Mechanically-played keyboard instrument.



. W. PAPE. MEGHANIGALLY PLAYED KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904, i 91 9 ,295 Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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W. PAPE. M-BGHANIGALLY PLAYED KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT. APPLIOATIOI nun m, 25, 1904.

' 919,295. P t tea Apr. 20, 1909.

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W. PAPE.

'- MEUHANIGALLY PLAYED KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

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w. PAPE. MEGHANICALLY PLAYED KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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II/II UNITED STATES WILHELM PAPE, or BERLIN, GER-MANY, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO K. HEILBRUNN or BERLIN,

PATENT OFFICE. 4

SQHNE, GERMANY.

. MECHANICALLY-PLAYED KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT.

' Application med August 25 T all whom it may concern:

automatically by means of pneumatic apskilled in music.

paratus arranged in the interior of,the instrument itself, and my improved apparatus comprises a multipleway slide-valve or switching device which permits the various dampers, pedals, and the like of the instrument either to be actuated automatically-by mechanism controlled by the perforated or' other band on'which the notes are represented or to be actuated by mechanism 0011- trolled by hand, an indicating device actuated automatically by mechanism controlled! in by the said band being preferably providdf to indicate to the player the proper damper, pedal or the like to be actuated at any -particular time in the event of his not being By this means, perfect artistic playing 'can be obtained with a mechanically-pla ed keyboard instrument.

The subject'o the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in its application to a piano-forte and in detail in these drawingkFigure 1 shows an openpi'anoforte having the subject of my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the general arrangement of the subject of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view hereinafter more fully described. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing. a vertical longitudinal section of Fig; 2*. Fi 3 is a front elevation partly in section of t valve casing. Figs.- t and 5 are transversesections of the said, valve casing, showing the valves in different ositio'ns. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the' fidicating device. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the same. Figs. 8 and 9 show the controlling device with the. slide valve in. 'difierent positions. Fig. 10 is a cross section illustrating the connection of the regulating bellows with the device for altering the expression. Fig. 11 is a perspective view f the controlling device.

" Like characters refer to like parts thmughout the several figures.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

, 1904. Serial No. 222,153.

Patented April 20, 1909.

In the drawings,the piano-forte, as A, is operated or played in the usual manner by any suitable motor which controls or, in other words, actuates a main suction bellows, as B, and an auxiliary suction bellows, as B-. A perforated sheet or band C, which may also be of common construction required. for playing the piano-forte, further serves for moving the loud and soft pedals .bymeansof corresponding perforations in the said band which control valves and operating bellows for the edals.

vMy invention, as wi l he hereinafter explained in detail, involves a switchin device, as D, which is introduced into 2111f is in communication 'with the suction pi ing that effects the regulation or control 0 the pedids; and this switching device permits the pedals either to be-moved directly by the perorations in the band C or by hand through an auxiliary keyboard E wl ich is arranged piano-forte. The said auxiliary keyboard E is suitably connected with the switching device and with bellows K, L, M, N and O which act directly on the-loud and soft pedal-s. For persons who are not musical, a de-' V106 Gris provided, which is actuated also through the'medium of the perforated'band C, operative with the switching devicel') and which indicates what key of the auxiliary -eyboard is to be depressed. The operation of controlling the pedals is as follows: A 'suctionbellows B is actuated as previously stated,'by any suitable motor, and its eration is continuous during the playing i the piano. Said bellows B is connected by means of suitablepiping or tubin c to an apparatus V comprising a series 0 valves controlled by the perforated music band C, these valves being respectively con-' heated by pipes f, f to convolute channels H in the switching devices D, the latter being designed to make connection between the playing device and the soft and loud stops so that the latter are either controlled directly by the perforated sheet or band C or by hand, according to the position of the valves in the switching devices D, as will be hereinafter described.

The switching devices D, as stated. are provided with convolute channels H torming passages ada fed for communication with the nulnber o pedal bellows to be operfront of the main keyboard F of the- 7 M, N, and O. When-the pedals are to be rated band C, a handle P ismoved in the di- .having an. indicating'mark thereon of any suitable. character to designate to the oper-' acter is -to be depressed. For example, see

'tion' (Fig. 9) a directpath is iopen for the ated. In this instance there are employed two switching devices D, each provided in I the casing thereof with three similar or corl responding convolute channels, as H. Communicating with the channels H are pipes or tubes J-which extend to. the bellowsJK, L, M, and 0 respectively. The valve Q connects the bellows B to the pedal pulleys K, either through the auto valve box V or manual box V. If the instrument and also the pedals are to be actuated solely by the perfo-v rection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, so as to eause the slide Q, to be movedinward, and in this manner the latter opens communication between the bellows B and the pipes or tubes J connected with the bellows K, L,

cont-rolled by hand, the handle P is moved inward to cause the slide Q to be pulled outward, which will shut oil communication from the bellows B to said bellows K, L, M, N, and O, and at the same time exhaustion of the bellows S of the indicating device takes place through the pipes'R. The indicating device is arranged in the front of the instrument so that it can be easily seen. I This in; dicator is preferably made of similar appearand private homes in connection with electric or pneumatic bells!- The perforated band, which is made in a well-known manner, during its travel permits the exhaustion of one or the other of the bellows S connected to the indicatingdevice, whereby a rod T is raised. A plurality of these rods T is provided in the indicating device, and each bearsa tablet with a figure or other 'inscription corresponding to a key of the auxiliary keyboard E. When one. of said rods '1 is raised it brings .to view the proper tablet ator. that the key of the-auxiliary keyboard which bears a similar or corresponding charthe key. andtablet 4 corresponding.thereto.

If the slides Q are in the pushed-in posiair to the .bellows K, L, M,:N, and 0 from the main bellows B, apparatus V, andpipes oud and soft stops "\ivilldeie controlled by the perforated band (1* T the slidesQ are in their drawn-outpositi ,asin'Fig. 8,the. air passing. to' ellows inust" pass through' thc pipes-R to' the switching device D from the indicatingdevice G, where the' bellows S is exhausted and'the indicating tablet is' thereby position for ob servation. The-operation of the loud and soft stops is eiiectediiow byliand, for which purpose the knob of which the number has appeared at the indicatin device, is deconnected therewith and pressed. The indicating evice G is conthrough the pipe a, into' the corresponding convolute passage H of the switching device D, through the pipe J to the bellows of which the adjustment of the stop is effected. .During the depression of the key4, for exan1ple,, in Fig. 2, aspringconsee Figs. 3 and 5. During-theopening of Win'to thediaphragm chamber (which is -'=normally kept under a reduced pressure) so that the diaphragm moves the valve Y from the position shown in Fig. a into the position shown in Fig. 5, and opens apassage Z. By this means air is drawn through the passage 0; which is connected through the'pip'e at to the convolute passage of theswitching device D and through pipe J i from the corresponding one of the bellows K, L, M, N, and O, the collapsing of which latter causes-the adjustment of the pedals. Assuming. that by the collapsing 75, f trolled valve U in a valvecasingV is opened,

the key 4 of the auxiliary keyboard shown in Fig. 2 is depressed and consequently the valve U of the casing V is open, the air enters into-the passage. W and the valve Y- is moved in a position soth-et the p' By movement of the slide Q, communication with thebellows 4, .Fig. 2,. is opened, and on exhaustion of'the latter the damper or moderator Z2 is moved, \vhichdorms the treble pianissimo, The perforated band 0 causes,

through the pipe R, a tablet to be brought.

to view in the indicating device fordesi nating to the operator that-the key 4: .o the auxiliary keyboard E is to be depressed.

Exactly the same series of operations is gone through in actuating the remaining pedals.

In order that the playing may be effected with as much expression as possible, the

pedal arrangements are divided into bass pedal, bass piano, and bass pianissimo,-and also treble and treble pianissimo. This division is made in the middle so that eachr I half can be actuated separately. 4 through theswitchingdevicei D, so'that the The instrument is set in motion by pressing on a key A of. the auxiliary keyboard E. By pressing this key the motor (not shown) is started and thesuctionbellows and perforated band are set in operation; By pressing on the key E said motor is stopped.-

The time is controlled by actuating the lever c, which, is likewise arranged. in the auxiliary keyboard E. This lever. is connected with the resistance or brake of the motor,

.both as regards time and expression. By

ping K leading to the switching device is, open; thus forming communication therewith.

--. with passages 2' linkwork When t e'indicating device is dispensed 1 depressing the various keys a large number of variations can be made in the playing, accordingly as the bass pedals are actuated Simultaneously with ,the piano pedals.

The whole apparatus can be mounted in the piano-forte or like instrument without increasing the size thereof so that a special or separate, playing apparatus is not required. The transmission of the motion from the pedal bellows, K, L, M, N, and O is effected by means of cords or rods.

. The perforated band C is fed along in the ordinary way over a bar it perforated in such a manner that it normally closes the mouths of the passages, which are only freed whenapertures in the perforated band move over them. From those passages 2', which correspond to the pedals and indicators, flexible pipes is extend to an apparatus V which in itsessentials is similar to the apparatus V in F igs; 3-5. The pipes l: are connected to the passages V of the apparatus V and the action is such that, in the moving of an aper ture in the perforated bandin front ofthe mouth of a passage 2', the pressure of the outer atmosphere enters into the diaphragmchamber (which is otherwise exhausted by reason of its connection with the suctionpipe 0), whereby the diaphragm moves to the right and the valve Y frees the aperture Z, so that the, connection of the particular pipe f with thesuction-pipe e is made. It should be noted that the apparatus V. only difiers from the apparatus V in that the air-inlet is controlled through W CW) by means of the perforated band, instead of by means of the valve U together with the ertain ing thereto.

with, the convolute channel of the switching device D can be connected directly with the valve casin 'B and the action of the'bellows K,'L, M, h and 0 remains the same as described above. The several pipes J, which extend from theswitching device D to the edal bellows K, L, M, N, and 0, lie side y side in the casing (Z of the piano-forte. The indicating device can obviously be arranged in any position in the instrument so as to be conveniently seen by the player.

. The piano-forte can also be played by hand in thesame manner as any: mechanically played key-board instrument.

What} claim is:

1. The combination ina mechanically playiad keyboard instrument, of a main suction bellows, an auxiliary suction bellows, tone sustaining and soft pedals, a main keyboard, an- 'suxiliar keyboard in front of the main keyboard, a switching device, pedal bellows which directly act on the latter, con nections between the auxiliary keyboard and the switching device and pedal bellows, an indicating device connects to the swltching device and operating in conjunction with the auxiliary keyboard to designate what key of the latter is to be depressed for directing 'un-' musical persons, a valve apparatus connected to the main suction bellows and the switching device, a tracker-board, and a perforated music band controlling the operation of the valve apparatus.

2. The combination in a mechanically played keyboard instrument, of a main sucdon-bellows, an auxiliary bellows, pedal bellows, multiple way switch in eans and controlling valves therefor having connections with the s'aid bellows, a main keyboard, an

auxiliary keyboard in front 01 the main vices, a main'actuating bellows, multiple way switching means connected to the bellows for operating the sustaining and soft tone effect devices and also with the main actuating bellows, a main keyboard, valves, pneumatlcs for operating said valves" through the actuation of the keys of the main keyboard, pipes connecting the latter valves and themult-iple way switching means, an auxiliarykeyboard, neumatic indicators connected to the auxl iary keyboard, pipes connecting said indicators with the switchingmean's, and a traveling perforated band for controlling the main bellows air connections.

4. The combination with. a mechanically played'keyboard instrument, of devices for producing sustained and soft tone effects,

mechanism for operating said devices, means for automatically controlling said operating mechanism, means for manually controlling said operating mechanism, means for independently throwing either the automatic or manual controlling means into action, a main keyboard, an auxiliary keyboard, and valve mechanism connected to the main and auxiliary keyboards, a part of the valve mechanism connected to the auxiliary kc board being in the form of an indicator having separately operating enunciating members.

5. The combination in a mechanically played keyboard instrument, of devices for producing sustained and soft tone effects, pneumatic mechanism for operatingsaid devices, main bellows foractuating said operating mechanism, manually operable pneua connection between the" matically. actuated valves for controlling valves, an auxiliary keyboard, and a per 10 said pneumatic operating mechanism, auxe forated' traveling music sheet.

iliary bellows for actuating said manually In testimony whereof I have hereunto set cont-rolled valves,multiple way switch means my hand inpresence of two subscribing witand controlling valves therein, pipe connecnesses. tions between the said multiple way switch' XVILHEUM PAPE. means, manually controlled valves and main VVit-nesses:

bellows, a main keyboard operatively asso- -SI.EGFRIED 'Hnnznnnc,

ciated with said mechanism, means and i HENRY HASPER. 

